Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When you come from the best state in the country, as I do, you are given many, many opportunities to feel proud, and Sunday was no exception, when the great state of South Australia became the first state in our country to legislate a First Nations voice to our parliament. I stood on North Terrace on Sunday with thousands of other South Australians. There was barely a dry eye on North Terrace yesterday. This is a momentous occasion for our state. South Australia led with the right for women to vote. It's leading now on a voice. This is an opportunity for us to do different, to do better, and we know we need to do better, despite the good intent over many, many decades. This is our opportunity to consult, to engage, to make a difference and to close the gap.

I am so deeply proud to be South Australian. I am deeply proud of our government, of Attorney-General Kyam Maher, of Premier Peter Malinauskas and, indeed, of every South Australian who has lent their voice in support of the voice and every South Australian who stood in the rain on Sunday backing in the voice. It's a fantastic achievement for our state, and let's get it done at the federal level.